Ronaldo’s latest dispute with Portugal has brought renewed attention to his confidence in his achievements and his expectations of how his legacy should be recognized.

The Portuguese Football Federation’s disciplinary council opened an investigation after Ronaldo left the national team’s camp midway through the recent international break.

Last week, Ronaldo accused Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word and presenting a false account of events, which he said had led to his abrupt departure from the squad earlier this month.

Against that backdrop, comments Ronaldo made to Spanish broadcaster La Sexta in an interview published in February 2025 have resurfaced after CNN shared them over the weekend, highlighting his conviction that his achievements place him above every other player in football history.

“People are not valuing the form I am in, my goals,” Ronaldo said in the interview.

The forward has scored 980 goals in 1,337 professional appearances for club and country, bringing him closer to the milestone of 1,000 career goals.

Asked whether he was pursuing that target, Ronaldo said he preferred to let events unfold naturally rather than focus on a long-term numerical objective.

“Things have to happen naturally,” he said.

“The best in history is me, full stop. The numbers speak for themselves. If I get there (to 1,000 goals), it is amazing, an objective, but I don’t think long-term.”

His remarks reflect a confidence that has remained central to his public image throughout a career spanning more than two decades, but the question of how much longer he intends to play has become increasingly prominent as he approaches the end of his career.

Last month, Ronaldo said he would “probably” retire at the end of Al Nassr’s season next June, fueling speculation about his future in professional football.

However, his retirement plans appear less settled when it comes to Portugal, where he has represented the national team since 2003.

In a 1,740-word statement initially issued to Portuguese media, Ronaldo offered his account of the recent dispute and made clear that he was not planning to retire from international duty immediately, expressing hope that he would receive “one or more farewell matches”.

The statement also revealed the extent to which recognition of his standing in football history has become part of the disagreement.

Ronaldo said he had asked Jesus to apologies for leaving him out of Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway and wanted to be described in “the stature of Pele or Diego Maradona”.

Both players are widely regarded among football’s greatest figures, alongside Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, whose international career with Argentina ended this month after the country’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final over the summer.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, remains the leading scorer in men’s international football, with 146 goals for Portugal, and has built a club career that includes spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as his current stint at Al Nassr.

His record provides the statistical foundation for his claim to be football’s greatest, but his recent confrontation with Portugal’s coaching staff has also highlighted the importance he places on recognition, respect and his role within the national team.

With his club retirement potentially approaching and his future with Portugal still unresolved, Ronaldo’s next decisions will help determine how the final chapter of his international career unfolds — and how he seeks to secure his place in football history.